Fruit pitter and slicer



April 1954 c. A. JARVIS 2,675,843

FRUIT PITTER AND SLICER Fi led June 15, 1951 A'FFOQNEYS Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRUIT PITTER AND SLICER Charles Agustus Jarvis, Ventura, Calif.

Application June 15, 1951, Serial No. 231,785

, 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination fruit pitter and slicer, and-more particularly to a device for separating fruits such as apricots, peaches, plums and the like from their pits.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination fruit pitter and slicer which is simple in construction, which is easy to operate, and which freely separates fruits such as peaches, apricots, plums and the like from their pits, and cuts the fruits into two halves.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combination fruit pitter and slicer which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is rugged in construction, and wherein the blade elements are readily replaceable.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and .from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an improved combination fruit pitter and slicer constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the combination fruit pitter and slicer shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a. top plan view of the combination fruit pitter and slicer of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional, detail view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the joint portion of a modified form of fruit pitter and slicer according to the present invention;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, one form of improved fruit pitter and slicer according to the present invention is designated generally at H and comprises a U-shaped clamp l6 having the bight portion I5, said bight portion being formed with a stud member [5 projecting substantially at right angles therefrom. Designated at I2 and it are respective arms which are arranged in crisscross relation and connected at the crisscross point to the stud member I5 for rotational movement toward and away from each other, said stud member being formed at its end with a reduced threaded portion M on which is engaged a washer l1 and a nut l6, as shown in Figure 4. A hearing washer I8 is provided on the stud l5, cooperating with the washer I! to hold the intermediate portion of the arm I2 close to the intermediate portion of the arm l3 while permitting relative rotation between the arms. As shown in Figure 4, the arm I2 is formed with a generally circular recess l8 and the intermediate portion of the arm I3 is formed with a generally circular boss portion fitting rotatably into the recess I8.

The rear end portions of the arms l3 and I2 are connected by a coil spring I9, the end of the spring being engaged on respective pins 20 and 2| secured to the ends of the arms 13 and 12, whereby the rear end portions of said arms are biased toward each other. The action of spring l9 also biases the forward end portions of the arms toward each other. As shown in Figure 2, the forward end portions of the arms I2 and I3 are outwardly bowed, as shown at 22 and 23, defining a generally oval space therebetween adapted to receive a fruit, such as the fruit 24. The forward ends of the arms 22 and 23 are formed with the longitudinal, coplanar slots 25 and 26, and received in said slots are respective razor blades 29 and 30, said blades being secured in the slots by respective machine screws 21 and 28. As shown in Figure 3, the left ends of the machine screws are threadedly engaged in the portions of the arms [2 and I3 at the left sides of the slots 25 and 26, whereby the razor blades 29 and 30- may be rigidly clamped in the slots by tightening the machine screws. As shown in Figure 2, the blades 29 and 30 are positioned so that their inner edges converge toward each other.

In using the device, the fruit 24 is held between the thumb and forefinger of the operator, said fruit being initially positioned between the outwardly bowed portions 22 and 23 of the arms l2 and I3. The fruit is drawn outwardly through the razor blades, the edges of the blades engaging on the pit 3| and being drawn thereover, whereby the fruit is cut into two halves as it is passed through the blades. The spring l9 exerts biasing pressure urging the blades toward each other and causing the blade edges to follow the contour of the pit 3| as the fruit is drawn through the blades.

It will be understood that the device may be mounted in any suitable location, such as the edge of a table, the table edge being received between the anvil portion 33 and the clamping screw 34 of the U-shaped clamp, whereby the device will be mounted in a rigid manner when the clamping screw 34 is tightened.

The two halves of the fruit may be readily separated after they have been sliced apart by passage through the blades 29 and 30, whereby said two halves may be removed from the pit 3|.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6, the respective arms shown at [2' and 13 are general V shaped and are pivotally connected together by being rotatably mounted on the stud IE5 at their apex portions. As shown in Figure 6, the arm I3 is formed with a groove 35, and the arm [2' is formed with a tongue portion 36 received in the groove 35 and rotatable'therein. As in the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, the arms are pivotally secured by means of the nut l6 engaged on the reduced threaded portion :4 of the stud I5, the respective bearing washers I! and 58 being providedon the stud on opposite sides of the pivotal .joint. The rear portions of the arms [3 and I2 are biased apart by a suitable spring 32, which may cornprise a length of relatively stiff spring wire looped at 31 and connectedat its ends-to the rear ,portions of the respectivearms I2 and I3 to exert spring biasing action urging said rear portions apart. Since the-rear portions of the arms 12 and 53 are biased away from each other, the forward portions of said arms will be biased toward each other, providingthe spring biasing action on the razonblades .29 and 36), whereby said razor blades engage the pit of the fruit as the fruit is drawn outwardly through the blades in the manner described above.

While certain specificembodiments of an improved combination fruit pitter and slicer have been shown in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention-except as defined by thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed-is:

l. A fruit pitter and slicer comprising an upstanding U-shaped clamp, a.clamping element rotatablysupported in one of the legs of said clamp adjacent the free end thereof and coasting with means formed on theother' of the legsof said clamp for attaching said clamp to a supporting surface, a vertically disposed stud .element arranged exteriorly of said clamp and having the upper end secured to the .bight of said clamp, a pair of horizontally disposed arms arranged in crisscross relation and connected at the crisscross point to said stud element for rotational movement toward and away from each other, a pair of razor blades arranged in end to end face relation positioned transversely of and between forward ends of the arms and each blade having the non-facing end fixedly secured to the adjacent arm, and spring means extending transversely between said arms adjacent the other ends thereof 'and secured to said other ends for biasing said arms toward each other.

2. A fruit pitter and slicer comprising an upstanding U-shaped clamp, a clamping element rotatably supported in one of the legs of said olamp adj-aeent the free end thereof and coact- .ing With means. formed on the other of the legs slots being coeplanar witheachuother, a pair of razor blades arranged in end to end face re1a tionpositioned transversely of andbetween said forward ends of said arms and each blade having the non-facing end extending into the slot of the adjacent arm andfixedly secured to the .latterarm, and spring means extending trans- 'versely between said arms adjacent the other ends thereof and secured to said other ends for biasing said arms toward eachother.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 466,453 Burns Jan. 5, 1892 889,458 Good June 2, 1908 1,702,801 Smith Feb. 19, 1929 r 2,089,774 Wachstein Aug. 10, 1937 2,185,090 Millen Dec. 26, 1939 2,317,669 Chekian Apr. 27, 1943 2,514,120 Chenelte .Ju1y 4, 1950 

